KARACHI: It is for the first time in more than a decade that the Karachi University Teachers’ Society (Kuts) elections will see only two groups contesting against each other on Thursday.

Unlike the past practice when three to four groups used to contest the elections, this year teachers representing different schools of thought have formed an alliance, Teachers’ Alliance for Good Governance (Tagg), to give a tough competition to their rival group, Karachi University Teachers’ Forum (KUTF).

The number of eligible voters has increased from last year’s 735 to 796 at present. They will elect six office-bearers and 15 executive council members of Kuts for a period of one year.

Sources said 30 to 35 teachers whose names were on the list of eligible voters had left the university, while some others were on leave. They added that ad hoc teachers were not entitled to vote.

Tagg is an alliance of groups of teachers having both right-wing and left-wing ideologies. The groups had earlier contested elections with different names.

The KUTF, which has been winning the Kuts elections for the past many years, has nominated Dr Mutahir Ahmed of the Department of International Relations for the top slot. He is contesting against Dr Shakeel Farooqi (Tagg) of the Department of Genetics.

“It’s after 12 years that only two groups are contesting the elections. I think teachers have realized that when they stand divided, they lose the polls. So, this time they have gone for an alliance against the ruling group that they feel has become administration’s rubber stamp,” said Dr Riaz Ahmed, a senior KU teacher and member of the recently formed alliance.

Teachers were more concerned about issues plaguing the university than individual politics, he added.

The Barkati factor (a reference to Prof Sohail Barki who currently serves as adviser to the vice chancellor), according to teachers, had played an important role in Kuts elections and his group had been winning the polls for almost 19 years. Though the professor had retired many years ago, teachers said, he had a huge ‘following’ and influence in administrative matters.

“Teachers have developed serious grievances against the group ruling Kuts particularly over the health insurance and car schemes. The prevailing situation is that you can’t get your legal or illegal work done without support of the teachers’ groups,” said another teacher on the condition of anonymity.

Moiz Khan, KUTF candidate for secretary’s slot, however, rejected the perception that his group was getting unpopular on the campus. He said: “We believe in the mandate and not in narratives. The fact that we have been winning the elections for many years shows that university teachers have faith in us.”

The group, he said, would learn from its mistakes and would better serve in future.

Other candidates contesting the elections are: Prof Mudasiruddin of the Department of Statistics (KUTF) and Dr Aliual Qadr (Tagg) of Dr A.Q Khan Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering for the vice president; Kishwar Khan of General History Department and Anila Amber Malik of the Department of Psychology (both represented the KUTF) and Anila Kausar of the Department of Geography and Sarwat Afshan of the Department of Genetics (both Tagg candidates) are contesting for joint secretary post.

Tagg candidate Hafiz Osama Shafeeq of the Department of Mass Communication is contesting for the slot of Kuts secretary.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2015